A Game of Thrones...George R.R. Martin

[Pantakrator]

Has any one else checked out this series? I love it! I'm only half way through the first book and it is AWESOME. For anyone under 16 though, I urge you not to read it. At the very least have some one you trust check it out first. Finally a book worth reading!

[CrusaderX]

You're only halfway through the first book? Ohhhh, I envy you. You're in for a very wild ride. Whatever you do, do not read spoilers for these books ahead of time. Don't read online reviews, don't even read the book jackets of the next novels. There are huge, huge surprises all throughout the story, and the reading experience is much more satisfying when you stumble upon these surprises and plot twists on your own.

And I agree, these books are not for kids. If they were movies, they'd definitely be rated R. They're very, very brutal. Since you're only halfway through the first book, you have no idea how brutal they can be. But for readers who can handle it, A Song of Ice and Fire is the very best modern fantasy series published today. I'm just about to re-read the third book for the second time myself.

[Shinsei]

Yeah, George RR Martin is great. There's so much depth and detail to his world. It's so real! Definately an adult book, but worth reading.

[Staci]

I voted "I love it!" though it's not my favorite book series. The writing is superb, characters believable (if a tad messed in da head), and the plot twists rock. DO NOT READ IT IF YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN 16 or can handle mature content. Most definitely. *nods sagely and toddles off*

[Ducky]

I have to agree with everyone insofar as this is an extremely well-written series. I mean it's just really great, but all the gruesomeness started getting to me after a while, certainly not for younger readers.... and after the first few books not really fer me...

[uc pseudonym]

I didn't really enjoy it... I think I read the first two books of the series, perhaps? Well written, but simply not the type of thing that I enjoy.

[PreventerWind]

I read A Game of Thrones. It was slow, but well written. I expected as much since a friend told me the action really picks up in the second book (which I have yet to begin but I plan to soon).

[Pantakrator]

Yes!!! I finally got "A Storm of Swords" from the library yesterday. These books are INSANE!!! I just wish he (Martin) would start writing chapters from Robb's perspective. Oh well...

BTW, what do you guys think of reccomending this series to others? I personally haven't been spiritually convicted of reading them, but I'm not sure about how some of my friends would feel about them. I really don't want to be a "stumbling block." Should I just give a hefty warning and let them decide? And I mean this in the least sexist way possible, but the friend I was going to reccomend it to is a girl. Do you guys think that changes anything?

Anyways, off to read some more.

[CrusaderX]

BTW, what do you guys think of reccomending this series to others? I personally haven't been spiritually convicted of reading them, but I'm not sure about how some of my friends would feel about them. I really don't want to be a "stumbling block." Should I just give a hefty warning and let them decide? And I mean this in the least sexist way possible, but the friend I was going to reccomend it to is a girl. Do you guys think that changes anything?

Good question. I generally go for the "give them a hefty warning and let them decide" option. Make it clear to them that these books would definitely be rated R if they were films, and that sex and violence are part of the story. But so are things such as redemption, honor, etc.

I don't really think it would matter if the reader is male or female. Though you might want to explain that in rough and brutal times such as the ASOIAF setting, women were often treated roughly and brutally. Alot of violence against women can be found in the books (alot of violence against men, too), but there are strong females such as Dany, Catelyn, and even Arya.

Let me know when you finish A Storm of Swords. And try not to go too insane.

[uc pseudonym]

Personally I wouldn't recommend them to any but the strongest by my siblings in Christ. I stand in strong disapproval of written porn, and I would never subject another believer to it unless I was sure they wouldn't stumble. If this isn't an issue for them, though, it is a very interesting set of books.

[Belgarath]

Meh, I agree that they are well written, but the incest-sex thing turned me off.

[Pantakrator]

Honestly, that didn't bother me. It seemed like he (Martin) was willing to show repurcussions to those actions... Actually without the incest it would only be a good vs. evil thing. They're wouldn't be the inner and outer stuggles going on... I'm rambling now... Later!